Welders, skilled professionals who play a vital role in various industries, face a hidden but potentially life-threatening hazard in their work environments: asbestos exposure.
Asbestos, once celebrated for its heat-resistant properties, has since been recognized as a hazardous substance with severe health consequences. This mineral, commonly used in construction and industrial applications for decades, can pose significant risks to welders working in older facilities, with asbestos-containing materials, or during maintenance and repair tasks.
Bailey & Glasser, LLP knows how deadly asbestos can be, and we’re here to help you explore your options if you’ve been exposed to it during your welding career. Your health and quality of life matter. If you believe your asbestos exposure as a welder has led to health problems, don’t wait. Take the first step toward seeking justice and the compensation you deserve.
How are Welders at Risk?
Welders may be at risk of asbestos exposure, especially if they work in older facilities or with materials that contain asbestos. Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that were widely used in construction and manufacturing for their heat-resistant and insulating properties. However, asbestos is now known to be a hazardous material that can cause serious health problems when its fibers are inhaled or ingested.
Asbestos Sources
Here are some ways in which welders can be at risk of asbestos exposure:
- Welding in older buildings: Many older buildings, particularly those constructed before the 1980s, used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) for insulation, fireproofing, and soundproofing. When welders work in these buildings, they may inadvertently disturb these materials, releasing asbestos fibers into the air.
- Working on asbestos-containing equipment: In industrial settings, equipment such as pipes, boilers, and ductwork may have been insulated or coated with asbestos-containing materials. Welders who perform maintenance or repairs on this equipment can come into contact with asbestos when they remove or disturb insulation or coatings.
- Using asbestos-containing welding rods: Some older welding rods and materials contained asbestos as a filler material. When welders use these rods, the welding process can generate heat and release asbestos fibers from the rod’s composition into the air.
- Cutting or grinding asbestos-containing materials: Welders who need to cut or grind materials that contain asbestos, such as asbestos-cement sheets or pipes, may inadvertently release asbestos fibers into the air during these processes.
- Demolition work: Welders involved in demolition projects, especially in older structures, may be exposed to asbestos if the building materials contain asbestos. Demolition activities can disturb ACMs and release asbestos fibers into the environment.
- Worksite disturbance: Even in modern workplaces, asbestos-containing materials may be present but encapsulated or undisturbed. If, during welding or other construction activities, these materials are damaged or disrupted, asbestos fibers can become airborne.
- Cleaning and maintenance: During cleaning and maintenance tasks in industrial settings, welders might encounter asbestos dust or debris, especially in areas where asbestos-containing materials were previously used.
Asbestos Health Risks
Here are some of the main health risks associated with asbestos exposure:
- Asbestosis: Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Over time, these fibers can cause scarring of the lung tissue (fibrosis), leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, and a decrease in lung function. Asbestosis is a progressive disease, and severe cases can be debilitating and life-threatening.
- Lung cancer: Long-term exposure to asbestos significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Asbestos-related lung cancer may not appear until many years after exposure has occurred. Smoking combined with asbestos exposure greatly amplifies the risk of developing lung cancer.
- Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), or, in rare cases, the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. It has a long latency period, often not developing until several decades after initial exposure.
- Other cancers: In addition to lung cancer and mesothelioma, asbestos exposure has been linked to an increased risk of other cancers, including throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectal cancers.
- Pleural plaques: Exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of pleural plaques, which are areas of thickened, scar-like tissue on the lining of the lungs. While pleural plaques themselves are generally not associated with symptoms, their presence indicates past exposure to asbestos and an increased risk of other asbestos-related diseases.
- Pleural effusion: Asbestos exposure can cause pleural effusion, the buildup of fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. This can lead to breathing difficulties and discomfort.
It’s important to note that the health risks associated with asbestos exposure are dose-dependent and often related to the duration and intensity of exposure. Additionally, individual susceptibility can vary, meaning some people may develop asbestos-related diseases even with lower levels of exposure.
Manufacturers of Asbestos-Containing Welding Equipment and Parts
- Alcoa Corporation: An Aluminum plant that uses asbestos for its refinery processes.
- Babcock & Wilcox: Produced boilers that featured asbestos insulation, gaskets, heat seals, and gauges, among other items.
- Bath Iron Works: A shipbuilding company that produced boilers, gaskets, pipe insulation, pumps, and air ejectors.
- Combustion Engineering: Known for manufacturing boilers, including their welded boiler that contained asbestos.
- Duro Dyne Corporation: Duro Dyne created duct connectors and sealers for heating and cooling systems.
- Garlock Sealing Technologies: Manufactured sealing products for various industries, including pulp and paper, chemical processing, power generation, construction, and waste treatment.
- Harvey Aluminum, Inc.: Started as a tool and die manufacturer but expanded to become a large aluminum producer.
- Johns-Manville: JM produced a wide range of products such as pipe covering, construction materials, adhesives, cement, and fireproof materials.
- Kaiser Aluminum: Kaiser Aluminum began as an aluminum manufacturer and quickly became the third-largest aluminum producer in the country.
- Metalclad Insulation Corporation: Known for specializing in manufacturing, distributing, and installing insulation systems.
- Owens-Corning Fiberglas: Produced cement, insulation, and other construction materials.
- W.R. Grace & Company: Created insulating materials, cement, and plasters to provide durability, insulation, and fire protection to structures.
Final Thoughts
Mesothelioma often has a long latency period, which means that symptoms may not appear until decades after asbestos exposure has occurred. This delayed onset of the disease can make early detection and diagnosis challenging.
At Bailey Glasser, we get how tough it is when someone’s diagnosed with mesothelioma, affecting not just the person but their family, too. If you’ve developed a health condition that may be linked to your work as a welder, contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP, to explore your legal options and determine if you may be entitled to compensation.
